Review: Pitch Perfect 3

Plot: After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bella’s find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

Remarks: The second Pitch Perfect film ended off with a bang but in Pitch Perfect 3, we find the Bella’s three years down the line as they try to adjust to the real world – with none of them really thriving. However, when an opportunity arises to go to the USO tour they find themselves competing for a spot on DJ Khaled’s upcoming tour. However, for the first time they deal with artists who use instruments – and it doesn’t go smoothly.

The story is okay but unfortunately, Pitch Perfect loses its momentum this time. The story steps way out of it’s original franchise (a university setting) which makes the girls seem desperate to hold onto that particular period of their lives. They’re all adults now and although singing is their escape, the fact that they all can’t seem to move on from this chapter is bizarre. What I did enjoy was Becca’s growth in the film. She gets the opportunity to sign a record deal without the Bella’s which sees the character at a crossroads of sorts. It ends her story off nicely and that full circle moment is wonderful to watch.

However, if compared to the first film, Pitch Perfect 3 is a major disappointment. Everything that set the film apart has been tossed aside and the producers rely too much on the generic elements that made the franchise successful. There’s nothing that sets the film apart and makes it special this time around. The magic has disappeared and the fact that the first two films were box office hits is the only reason this third film came to life.

However, besides the weak storyline, the cast, again, puts on a wonderful performance. Anna Kendrick is a natural in front of the camera and her vocal ability is really great. Fat Amy comes face-to-face with her father who left her as a child and while the story is ridiculous, it fits with the same ridiculousness that comes with Fat Amy’s character and was, truthfully, the only refreshing thing about this film. The almost action-film sub-plot is incredibly weird and confusing but I enjoyed it. Then, naturally, the music was on point. It’s one of the franchise’s saving grace and really saves this film from being a complete disaster.

One of my favourite parts of the Pitch Perfect franchise has always been the announcers (played by John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks). They always bring so much humour to the franchise and I enjoyed how their characters were integrated into this film. Other than them, the film is funny and you will find yourself laughing all the way through but, unfortunately, the film relies too much on the comedic element and let the story fall through the cracks.

Pitch Perfect 3 is, unfortunately, incredibly disappointing. The franchise has so much character and magic and none of it transpired onto the screen this time around. This is a sequel that should have never been created. If you’re looking for a bit of slapstick comedy, you’ll have fun watching this film. Just make sure you lower your expectations.